Police warn public to beware of fake news on crime

In the wake of multiple false reports of shootings and other crimes, police yesterday warned the public to beware of false messages on crime circulating on social media.

“I do believe that social media causes a lot of fear and we want to encourage those who are using social media to be concerned, be professional, be aware of what they are doing,” Superintendent Shanta Knowles said.

“Do not spread information that is false, wait for the proper authorities to give the information because it is causing fear in our communities.”

Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson also advised the public to “pay attention to the direct report that you have from the persons who know what it is”.

There were two double murders this week.

The first incident took place at Potter’s Cay shortly after 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

When officers arrived on that scene, they found two men unresponsive with gunshot wounds to the upper body. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

On Thursday, shortly after 7 a.m. police were called to White’s Addition off Kemp Road where they discovered two men who had been shot and killed.

Police said that the men had been approached by men inside a vehicle that “fired indiscriminately” at them.

In the hours that followed the Potter’s Cay shooting, social media was filled with allegations of other double murders across New Providence.

However, police have since dispelled the reports.

Even up to press time there were false reports of a shooting in the Fox Hill community.